WASHINGTON, D.C., April 6, 2002 - With a giant corporate shredder shredding away in front of the Capitol, today Ralph Nader and representatives from several public interest, consumer, and labor organizations made it clear that corporate rule in America is bad for democracy, dangerous for the environment, unfair to workers, and inimical to the Constitution.

The giant corporate shredder, a true sight to behold at 240 cubic feet, was working overtime today as demonstrators dressed as anonymous corporate executives fed the hungry shredder cherished American values like truth, justice, democracy, families, communities, and spirituality, all in relentless pursuit of profits and power.

The event was part of Big Business Day, Citizen Works' national day of action against corporate rule in America with activities in more than 100 locations throughout the country, from Puerto Rico to Portland, Oregon. All over America, citizens took to the streets in protest, theater, and parades to talk about how Big Business is hurting them in their local communities and to discuss the role big corporations play in their lives.

At the D.C. event, consumer advocate and Citizen Works founder Ralph Nader called on the government to do its long-neglected duty and police corporate crime.

"After years of exposés of corporate crime, fraud, and abuse by the mainstream media that go nowhere, from the Wall Street Journal to 60 Minutes, it is long overdue for the forces of law and order to crack down systemically on fraudulent and criminal behavior by Big Business against the interests of workers, investors, consumers, taxpayers, and the environment."

Mildred Brown, legislative representative of ACORN, spoke about how corporate greed hurts low-income families.

"Last summer, families couldn't afford to refrigerate milk for their infants, seniors couldn't afford to turn on a fan to keep cool, all because Ken Lay and others believed that being disgustingly rich wasn't enough, and because they legally bribed our government officials to enrich themselves even more," Brown said. "If we truly had a government of the people, energy would be regulated for the good of the people."

Karen Friedman, director of policy strategies at the Pension Rights Center, spoke about how a failure in both the public and private sectors caused the Enron pension disaster.

"What created Enron?" Friedman asked. "A host of factors. But certainly the mixture of lax federal regulatory policies combined with corporate practices that only reward the bottom line helped create these abuses. We need to pass laws that close gaps in the federal private pension laws and create federal policies that help protect workers."

Lisa Gue, policy analyst with Public Citizen's Critical Mall Energy and Environment Program, spoke about how the nuclear industry is endangering the well-being of 50 million Americans to create a dump at Yucca Mountain.

"The dangerous plan to ship tens of thousands of tons of deadly radioactive waste through virtually every state is yet another example of corporate interests unacceptably influencing energy policy and threatening public health, the environment, and the safety of our communities," Gue said.

Stephen Kretzmann, Campaigns Director for the Sustainable Energy & Economy Network at the Institute for Policy Studies, spoke about how Enron ruthlessly used $7.2 billion in public financing to build its global network.

"It is simply no surprise to the people of Argentina, India, or the Dominican Republic that Enron is an unethical corporation," Kretzmann said. "For years, Enron and other oil and gas companies have been getting away with murder, sometimes quite literally. For years, the US government and international financial institutions have been helping them, usually turning a deaf ear to local complaints.

Chris Townsend, political action director of United Electrical Workers Union spoke of the failure of our government to crack down on corporate crime.

"Working people are the innocent victims of an unprecedented Big business wave of criminal and corrosive conduct," he said. "Sadly, our elected officials, lawmakers, regulatory agencies, and even law enforcement are unwilling to confront this greed-driven corporate crime."

Tom Devine, legislative director for the Government Accountability Project, spoke about the need for increased whistleblower protection to prevent future corporate disasters sustained by secrecy that threaten the public and shareholders.

"As the eyewitnesses to corporate crime, whistleblowers are the lifeblood for genuine law enforcement efforts," Devine said. "Without them, anti-corruption campaigns are empty and lifeless. You can only rarely prosecute criminals unless those who can call their bluffs bear witness."

For more information on National Big Business Day click here or contact Lee Drutman at Citizen Works at 202-265-6164 or ldrutman@citizenworks.org.

Citizen Works is a nonprofit founded by Ralph Nader to advance justice by strengthening citizen participation in power. We give people the tools and opportunities to build democracy.

Last Updated February 2003